Since the success of Gladiator we've had a whole rash of big-budget period epics. What's your opinions of them, in regards to the quality of films (not historical accuracy)?
My opinions:-
Troy - 2/5
Utter bollocks. Badly directed action scenes; terrible wooden acting (with exceptions of Brian Cox, Peter O'Toole and possibly Eric Bana); absolutely dire James Horner score. The only good parts were the well-chereographed one-on-one sword fights and the eye-candy of the gorgeous Diane Krueger. I'm sure women loved this cuz of all the talentless pretty-boys in skirts.
Alexander - 1/5
Fucking fucking dire, made Troy look like gold. Awful over-acting (especially Angelina Jolie, who doesn't deserve the Oscar she won for the craptacular Girl, Interrupted); way over-long; a lack of battles, and the two battles which there were badly shot with shaky-cam cinematography. The WORST film of 2004.
Master and Commander - 3/5
Excellent cinetography, design etc - fun character-driven popcorn film, but still underwhelming. Russell Crowe doing what he does best - beating the crap out of people.
Cold Mountain - 1/5
Over-long, over-blown melodramatic romantic dreck. Way over-acted performances from the leads, especially the awful Renee Zellweger as the farm-hand tomboy.
The Last Samurai - 3/5
Dances with Samurai. A very cheesy movie with Tom Cruise over-acting (especially the last scene, it looks like he's going to explode, LOL.). Overall good battle scenes (although the one where the ninjas attack was silly) and the Japanese supporting cast (especially Ken Watanabe) was excellent.
Gangs of the New York - 3/5
Excellently recreated setting, with a fantastic performance from Daniel Day-Lewis. But the plot was quite messy and 2nd half has the pacing of a dog. Like many excellent filmmakers, Scorsese is getting worse with old age. I haven't seen Aviator but do plan to soon and I hope his Infernal Affairs remake lives upto the original.
...and what the hell
Pearl Harbor - 1/5
Master of vapid blockbusters Michael Bay does Titanic-meets-Private Ryan. Another over-long, over-blown melodramatic romantic dreck of plot smothered with corny dialogue, hammy acting and sickening American patriotism. It stars Ben Affleck, that speaks for itself. If wanna see a Michael Bay movie, rent Bad Boys 2 - at least it's a fun buddy-cop film.
I haven't seen King Arthur and don't plan to anytime soon.
Opinions on post-Gladiator period epics?
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EvaUnit02
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degeneration
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Well of the list you gave I've not seen many... but of the ones I have seen...
King Arthur 0.5/5
You said Alexander was the worst film... I beg to differ. This was so so so crap. Maybe the director's cut would be better but I don't see how. Clive Owen has shown in some other films that he can act, but in this he gives one of the worst performances I have ever seen. Unbelievabley wooden acting, with no charisma at all, the battle scenes were pathetic... I didn't like it at all.
Gangs of New York 4/5
I really like this one and thought Daniel Dal Lewis was superb.
The Last Samurai 4/5
Again I really liked this one and thought Ken Watanabe was superb.
But these big period epics are just a current fad for Hollywood. Give it a few years and something else new will come along.
King Arthur 0.5/5
You said Alexander was the worst film... I beg to differ. This was so so so crap. Maybe the director's cut would be better but I don't see how. Clive Owen has shown in some other films that he can act, but in this he gives one of the worst performances I have ever seen. Unbelievabley wooden acting, with no charisma at all, the battle scenes were pathetic... I didn't like it at all.
Gangs of New York 4/5
I really like this one and thought Daniel Dal Lewis was superb.
The Last Samurai 4/5
Again I really liked this one and thought Ken Watanabe was superb.
But these big period epics are just a current fad for Hollywood. Give it a few years and something else new will come along.
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Mordib
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ok, fun subject because this is one of my favourate genres! 
Alexander - get the most controversial out of the way first, i really enjoyed this film!! it could've been much better, mainly by being twice as long and covering some of the more epic battles, they really did miss out some of the best ones! 4/5
King arthur - again, i liked this a lot, and would have rated it even higher if I didn't dislike the arthur character so much. I agree with Degeneration that it was one of Clive Owens worst performances of his career. 3/5
The last Samurai - it had tom cruise in it and was still totally awesome. one of my most watched films! 5/5
Gangs of New York - better on the second viewing. still not one of my favorite movies in which i didnt like the plot, characters or dialogue... 2/5
Pearl Harbour - oh dear 0/5
Master and Commander - how come I find Russel crowe the worst part of any movie he's in??!! I thought it was a boring plot apart from anything, never really drew me in... 1/5
m.
Alexander - get the most controversial out of the way first, i really enjoyed this film!! it could've been much better, mainly by being twice as long and covering some of the more epic battles, they really did miss out some of the best ones! 4/5
King arthur - again, i liked this a lot, and would have rated it even higher if I didn't dislike the arthur character so much. I agree with Degeneration that it was one of Clive Owens worst performances of his career. 3/5
The last Samurai - it had tom cruise in it and was still totally awesome. one of my most watched films! 5/5
Gangs of New York - better on the second viewing. still not one of my favorite movies in which i didnt like the plot, characters or dialogue... 2/5
Pearl Harbour - oh dear 0/5
Master and Commander - how come I find Russel crowe the worst part of any movie he's in??!! I thought it was a boring plot apart from anything, never really drew me in... 1/5
m.
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thelostdragon
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From the new wave of such period films, there are only two which I can remember that blew me away and which I'd both give 5/5. These are "Braveheart" and "The Last Samurai". Maybe 4.5/5.
But the fact that I can only remember these two films to have amazed so much, shows me that the new wave period films are a difficult genre. It's like talking about Chinese new wave kung fu films. Apart from "CTHD", "Hero" and "HOFD", there wasn't really much that could convince on the same level.
But the fact that I can only remember these two films to have amazed so much, shows me that the new wave period films are a difficult genre. It's like talking about Chinese new wave kung fu films. Apart from "CTHD", "Hero" and "HOFD", there wasn't really much that could convince on the same level.
